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ATLANTA -- Pittsburgh right-hander Gerrit Cole continued to polish his reputation as a money pitcher on Tuesday, and this time it secured his team a spot in the playoffs for the second straight year. Cole overcame some early troubles to retire 17 straight batters as the Pirates beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 and clinched no worse than a wild-card spot. "He's the type of guy you want out on the mound every single game," Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "He's a gamer." Cole got behind 2-0 when he gave up a run in each of the first two innings. After allowing the Braves to load the bases in the second, he got a double play and a strikeout, then...

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ATLANTA -- Pittsburgh right-hander Gerrit Cole continued to polish his reputation as a money pitcher on Tuesday, and this time it secured his team a spot in the playoffs for the second straight year.
Cole overcame some early troubles to retire 17...

Derek Jeter will be in the spotlight for perhaps the final time when he starts at shortstop for the American League in the All-Star Game.
The New York Yankees captain, who is retiring following the season, heads the AL squad for the July 17 game in...

Jimmy Butler’s Taylor Swift sing along in the Bulls locker room earlier this year makes a little more sense now.
The Bulls guard was on hand Friday for the country music festival, Windy City Smokeout, at Grand Avenue and the Chicago River. Ex-Bear Greg...

Anthony Rizzo's rising popularity is showing up not only in Final Vote ballots for the All-Star Game, but also in jersey sales.
The Cubs first baseman ranks 15th on Major League Baseball's list of jersey sales since opening day.
Heading into his 14th...

No. 8 Braves: 23rd in a series counting down to spring training. Next: Phillies.
Isn't every action supposed to bring an equal opposite reaction?
Frank Wren must not have gotten the message.
While the Red Sox's 7-20 September led to sweeping...

From Zambrano 'retires' after dismal 10-4 loss: Things became really ugly in the fifth when Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla hit back to back home runs. Zambrano then threw two inside pitches at Chipper Jones, missing both times. I understand ...

Russell Martin won't be coming back to the Dodgers.
Martin, the premier catcher on this year's free-agent market, agreed Monday to a five-year, $82-million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The St. Louis Cardinals also filled the outfield void created...

The bat flip went mainstream last week.
That is why this week should be so intriguing. We generally do not hold a referendum on the popularity of our celebrities, but this is the time when America extends a collective thumbs up or thumbs down to Yasiel...

That probably wasn’t real fair. The Dodgers are on their first actual hot streak of the season and then send Clayton Kershaw to the mound.
The results were somewhat predictable, even if Atlanta starter Julio Teheran pitched nearly as well as Kershaw.
...

The unfamiliar and unwanted chill in the Florida air will soon subside, and that means one thing -- it's time for spring training baseball in the Sunshine State.
Pitchers and catchers begin reporting for Grapefruit League teams in the second week...

Dodgers fans can talk about what might be. Angels fans can talk about what might have been.
When the rosters for Major League Baseball's All-Star game were announced Saturday afternoon, the National League team included Dodgers left-hander Clayton...

PHOENIX — Matt Kemp returned to the disabled list Monday, this time because of an irritated joint in his surgically repaired left shoulder. The Dodgers recalled Scott Van Slyke from triple-A Albuquerque to replace him on the active roster.
Kemp missed 24...

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw will be making his third consecutive All-Star game appearance and Angels outfielder Mike Trout his second.
And rookie sensation Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers still has a chance of making his first.
Puig, who has played...

The palpable frustration is creeping back for the Dodgers as Puigmania slowly loses its freshness.
The images were clear Sunday: Adrian Gonzalez staring blankly at the baseball in his left hand after making an error that led to four runs in the third...

Yes, Yasiel Puig will have nights like that.
And nights like this.
One night after the Dodgers' rookie right-fielder came down to earth with an 0-for-4, two-strikeout performance, he headed back out to orbit by blasting a grand-slam home run in a 5-0...

"I do home run derby every day in BP."
Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis, the major leagues' home run leader, on his inclusion in Monday's home run derby.
"To get this much love and support from everybody is just unimaginable. ......

The first story line of the exhibition season: Can a college kid upstage the New York Yankees?
No, seriously. The Yankees open the Grapefruit League season Tuesday against Florida State, and the Seminoles' roster includes Heisman Trophy winner Jameis...

What initially looked like an unfolding crisis quickly turned into the Dodgers' loudest statement of the postseason — even louder than the fans at Dodger Stadium who mocked the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night by mimicking the Tomahawk Chop.
In defeating...

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It's not often you see a benches-clearing brawl after the second pitch of the game, but that's just what happened during Wednesday's Brewers-Braves game in Atlanta.
Paul Maholm was pitching for Atlanta to...